Three.js Loaders

Quick Start

import * as THREE from "three";
import { GLTFLoader } from "three/addons/loaders/GLTFLoader.js";

// Load GLTF model
const loader = new GLTFLoader();
loader.load("model.glb", (gltf) => {
  scene.add(gltf.scene);
});

// Load texture
const textureLoader = new THREE.TextureLoader();
const texture = textureLoader.load("texture.jpg");

LoadingManager

Coordinate multiple loaders and track progress.

const manager = new THREE.LoadingManager();

// Callbacks
manager.onStart = (url, loaded, total) => {
  console.log(`Started loading: ${url}`);
};

manager.onLoad = () => {
  console.log("All assets loaded!");
  startGame();
};

manager.onProgress = (url, loaded, total) => {
  const progress = (loaded / total) * 100;
  console.log(`Loading: ${progress.toFixed(1)}%`);
  updateProgressBar(progress);
};

manager.onError = (url) => {
  console.error(`Error loading: ${url}`);
};

// Use manager with loaders
const textureLoader = new THREE.TextureLoader(manager);
const gltfLoader = new GLTFLoader(manager);

// Load assets
textureLoader.load("texture1.jpg");
textureLoader.load("texture2.jpg");
gltfLoader.load("model.glb");
// onLoad fires when ALL are complete

Texture Loading

TextureLoader

const loader = new THREE.TextureLoader();

// Callback style
loader.load(
  "texture.jpg",
  (texture) => {
    // onLoad
    material.map = texture;
    material.needsUpdate = true;
  },
  undefined, // onProgress - not supported for image loading
  (error) => {
    // onError
    console.error("Error loading texture", error);
  },
);

// Synchronous (returns texture, loads async)
const texture = loader.load("texture.jpg");
material.map = texture;

Texture Configuration

const texture = loader.load("texture.jpg", (tex) => {
  // Color space (important for color accuracy)
  tex.colorSpace = THREE.SRGBColorSpace; // For color/albedo maps
  // tex.colorSpace = THREE.LinearSRGBColorSpace;  // For data maps (normal, roughness)

  // Wrapping
  tex.wrapS = THREE.RepeatWrapping;
  tex.wrapT = THREE.RepeatWrapping;
  // ClampToEdgeWrapping, RepeatWrapping, MirroredRepeatWrapping

  // Repeat/offset
  tex.repeat.set(2, 2);
  tex.offset.set(0.5, 0.5);
  tex.rotation = Math.PI / 4;
  tex.center.set(0.5, 0.5);

  // Filtering
  tex.minFilter = THREE.LinearMipmapLinearFilter; // Default
  tex.magFilter = THREE.LinearFilter; // Default
  // NearestFilter - pixelated
  // LinearFilter - smooth
  // LinearMipmapLinearFilter - smooth with mipmaps

  // Anisotropic filtering (sharper at angles)
  tex.anisotropy = renderer.capabilities.getMaxAnisotropy();

  // Flip Y (usually true for standard textures)
  tex.flipY = true;

  tex.needsUpdate = true;
});

CubeTextureLoader

For environment maps and skyboxes.

const loader = new THREE.CubeTextureLoader();

// Load 6 faces
const cubeTexture = loader.load([
  "px.jpg",
  "nx.jpg", // positive/negative X
  "py.jpg",